Highgate High Level

Whistlekiller is quite correct. If you look at the prices of the Radley models and metromodels kits and products they are relatively expensive as they are a small manufacturers and therefore don't tend to enjoy economies of scale.

The 1927 trailer in the photo does look high so I will be amending it! The metromodels bogies don't fit as I can just see half the wheel sticking out the side! Thankfully it is not that easy to see as tube stock is quite low anyway.

I had a plan last year to use a 24.5mm tenshodo at the trailing end but realised that the bogie would be too small although it is only 1m out either side. Still may do it.

I'm not aware that the kits were 40 years old although the moulds are not as I'm sure they were redone for resin a few years ago.

They could do with a revamp (I am a perfectionist!) but that costs money so I can't blame the supplier.

A few years ago, chatting with "Mr EFE" found that he was completely unaware of the complexities of 'Standard Stock', thinking in laymans terms that 'standard' meant same or very similar, how wrong he was!

Even when detail differences of 1938/1959/1962 Tube Stock were pointed out before production began, the finished product included/excluded all of the 'mistakes' highlighted.

More recent contact has revealed the Tube Stock were slow sellers, individual cars (DM) selling much better, therefore the decision to sell in 3/4-car sets to include the less popular trailer/NDM cars, to reduce retail stock.

metman: Well, that's true. The positive thing about the Metromodels kits though is that they are now 3D printed and designed to ride pretty much like the real thing. I have however heard a few mixed things about them. John himself said, when i met him, that they are hand finished and that's why they are as costly as they are. On the other hand, i have seen a build report of a 1983-stock kit. I do however look forward to buying some of those kits later on, finished or not.

lulfan: Actually, from what i've heard they sold quite well, but that might have been just the Isle of Wight sets. I'm not sure.

Dstock7080: You know what they say, you never stop learning.

I like the models anyway, despite their flaws.

And depsite them being "slow sellers" i have heard rumors that EFE/Bachmann will produce more LU models in the future.

metman, again: There are kits for the Dreadnoughts, but again i've heard mixed things about them. But seeing as Heljan and Bachmann have released the Bo-Bo's and Panniers i don't think matching rtr coaches are far away.

Anyway, yeah, there is indeed a scenic break on each end. I am unsure of how to handle that though. As i was hoping to make this a modular station, for a layout that usually is mostly single track, i might have to make the tunnels as seperate modules. That way i can swap them for switches/points if needed.

I think that might be a trick of the light. Look on the right side of the DM's cabs. It looks to me like the sides do taper inwards a little bit, but maybe not enough. Although that could be because of the angle.

Of course, i could be completely wrong.

True, it could depend on how well the BoBo sells, but as mentioned, Bachmann has a whole series of numbers reserved for LU/LT models. That could mean basically anything.

I agree, the handrails on the EFE models aren't the best, but i'm not a perfectionist so i'm not really bothered.
Although, there is one way of supplying RTR cars without blocky looking handrails. Make them as seperate pieces, either to be applied in the factory or by the buyer.